Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford
Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Spanish
Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Spanish
Join to apply for the
Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Spanish
role at
Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford . This position is headquartered at
Easterseals Chicago Location at 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608 .
At Easterseals of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, we are committed to two – often interconnecting – pillars of work: early learning and disability. Through these pillars, we transform the lives of early learners and individuals of all abilities through access to expert educational, family, and community support. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit health care organization, we have proudly served the communities and families of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford since 1936.
Under the direction of the Family and Health Coordinator, the Family and Health Advocate (FHA) builds trusting and collaborative relationships and provides ongoing direct support services to families at assigned sites throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The FHA works collaboratively with sites and with the Early Learning Services team to deliver services that fulfill Head Start/Early Head Start/Preschool for All/Prevention Initiative requirements in the areas of ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance), PFCE (Parent, Family and Community Engagement), and Health and Nutrition.
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain professional partnerships with administrative and teaching staff at assigned sites; evaluate needs and provide support to sites in meeting the Head Start Program Performance Standards and PFA/PI requirements.
Build trusting relationships with families and provide ongoing support through the following:
At least one significant monthly contact with each family (in person whenever possible); family assessment and goal setting; referrals and services, follow‑up, and advocacy to meet family needs and interests; implementation of parent engagement curriculum.
Provide two family visits per year to each family in their home.
Promote literacy by increasing families’ access to materials, including lending libraries, and encouraging involvement in classroom activities.
Maintain full enrollment of Head Start/Early Head Start/PFA/PI children at assigned sites through ongoing recruitment and by following the eligibility, selection, acceptance, and enrollment process; fill vacancies within 30 days.
Implement attendance follow‑up procedures, including attendance home visits as needed, to support regular attendance.
Develop and maintain a regular schedule of site visits to ensure implementation of HS/EHS/PFA/PI services and ongoing contact with families; this includes being present in person on site for, but not limited to, the following:
Drop‑off and pick‑up on a regularly scheduled weekly basis
Eligibility screenings
Playdates
Acceptance meetings
Each child’s first day at the center
Parent meetings, workshops, and events
Weekly check‑in with the director to review site verification
Weekly check‑in with the director to discuss enrollment and selection
Other meetings with parents as identified
Work with Easterseals and site staff to ensure that enrolled children remain up‑to‑date on well‑child visits, physicals, immunizations, EPSDT‑required screenings, vision and hearing, and dental exams; educate families on the purpose of preventive health care; ensure protocols are followed for any ongoing health issues (asthma, food allergies, etc.); follow up with families and doctors’ offices as needed.
Measure the heights and weights of children ages 2 and up according to a twice‑yearly schedule.
Collaborate with teachers and instructional coaches to communicate with the parent as needed when there are developmental, social‑emotional, or behavioral concerns; provide resources through SRT (Screening Review Team) and Social Emotional Review Team meetings and support families through the IEP/IFSP process.
Work with sites to encourage parent participation in Parent Committees and agency‑wide Policy Council; coordinate parent elections for committee officers and representatives.
With Parent Committees and sites, plan an annual Parent Involvement Activity Calendar and Budget, including annual Parent Orientation, Parent Committee meetings, parent workshops, and parent‑child activities; coordinate and be present for these activities.
Maintain complete and accurate records in the ChildPlus system; maintain complete and accurate child/family binders at sites; implement tracking to ensure required timelines are met.
Participate in community engagement activities and relationship‑building, including recruitment, developing linkage agreements, and attending agency/network meetings and community events; maintain a complete and updated Community Resource Board at sites.
Submit all required paperwork accurately and in a timely manner; attend all required meetings; complete and submit site verification forms and maintain Outlook calendar.
Participate in Enrollment/Recruitment Campaign, annual self‑assessment, community assessment, and PIR; contribute to the achievement of Program Goals and School Readiness goals and promote a culture of safety.
Based on caseload sizes, FHAs may provide regional support with family engagement and recruitment.
All other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree or higher in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field.
Associate’s degree in the above fields plus a minimum of 1 year of experience in social services or early childhood education.
Degree in another field plus a minimum of 1‑3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education.
No degree plus a minimum of 1‑3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education; if no degree, or if degree is in another field, a family specialist credential must be earned within 18 months of hire.
Experience
Bilingual ability (English/Spanish) may be preferred or required for some positions.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or related software, including Microsoft Teams.
Vehicle/Transportation Requirements
Valid driver’s license.
Auto insurance.
Reliable vehicle.
Travel to Easterseals and partner sites regularly.
Skills & Abilities
Able to establish rapport and build trusting relationships with families.
Demonstrates a non‑judgmental, compassionate, and culturally sensitive approach to working with families.
Demonstrates a communication style that is open, adaptable, reflective, engaging, honest, and culturally sensitive.
Ability to visit families in home and community settings, and to work flexible hours, including evenings, to meet family needs.
Ability to engage in reflective learning practices and to utilize constructive feedback to inform work with families.
Ability to work well with all levels of the organization, partner sites, other agencies, and funding source personnel.
Demonstrates the ability to conceptualize and articulate program outcomes.
Ability to manage multiple projects.
Well organized, highly detail‑oriented, and accuracy‑driven.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor‑sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.
Salary: $44,098 - $55,123 annually.
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Family and Health Advocate - Bilingual Spanish
role at
Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford . This position is headquartered at
Easterseals Chicago Location at 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608 .
At Easterseals of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, we are committed to two – often interconnecting – pillars of work: early learning and disability. Through these pillars, we transform the lives of early learners and individuals of all abilities through access to expert educational, family, and community support. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit health care organization, we have proudly served the communities and families of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford since 1936.
Under the direction of the Family and Health Coordinator, the Family and Health Advocate (FHA) builds trusting and collaborative relationships and provides ongoing direct support services to families at assigned sites throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The FHA works collaboratively with sites and with the Early Learning Services team to deliver services that fulfill Head Start/Early Head Start/Preschool for All/Prevention Initiative requirements in the areas of ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance), PFCE (Parent, Family and Community Engagement), and Health and Nutrition.
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain professional partnerships with administrative and teaching staff at assigned sites; evaluate needs and provide support to sites in meeting the Head Start Program Performance Standards and PFA/PI requirements.
Build trusting relationships with families and provide ongoing support through the following:
At least one significant monthly contact with each family (in person whenever possible); family assessment and goal setting; referrals and services, follow‑up, and advocacy to meet family needs and interests; implementation of parent engagement curriculum.
Provide two family visits per year to each family in their home.
Promote literacy by increasing families’ access to materials, including lending libraries, and encouraging involvement in classroom activities.
Maintain full enrollment of Head Start/Early Head Start/PFA/PI children at assigned sites through ongoing recruitment and by following the eligibility, selection, acceptance, and enrollment process; fill vacancies within 30 days.
Implement attendance follow‑up procedures, including attendance home visits as needed, to support regular attendance.
Develop and maintain a regular schedule of site visits to ensure implementation of HS/EHS/PFA/PI services and ongoing contact with families; this includes being present in person on site for, but not limited to, the following:
Drop‑off and pick‑up on a regularly scheduled weekly basis
Eligibility screenings
Playdates
Acceptance meetings
Each child’s first day at the center
Parent meetings, workshops, and events
Weekly check‑in with the director to review site verification
Weekly check‑in with the director to discuss enrollment and selection
Other meetings with parents as identified
Work with Easterseals and site staff to ensure that enrolled children remain up‑to‑date on well‑child visits, physicals, immunizations, EPSDT‑required screenings, vision and hearing, and dental exams; educate families on the purpose of preventive health care; ensure protocols are followed for any ongoing health issues (asthma, food allergies, etc.); follow up with families and doctors’ offices as needed.
Measure the heights and weights of children ages 2 and up according to a twice‑yearly schedule.
Collaborate with teachers and instructional coaches to communicate with the parent as needed when there are developmental, social‑emotional, or behavioral concerns; provide resources through SRT (Screening Review Team) and Social Emotional Review Team meetings and support families through the IEP/IFSP process.
Work with sites to encourage parent participation in Parent Committees and agency‑wide Policy Council; coordinate parent elections for committee officers and representatives.
With Parent Committees and sites, plan an annual Parent Involvement Activity Calendar and Budget, including annual Parent Orientation, Parent Committee meetings, parent workshops, and parent‑child activities; coordinate and be present for these activities.
Maintain complete and accurate records in the ChildPlus system; maintain complete and accurate child/family binders at sites; implement tracking to ensure required timelines are met.
Participate in community engagement activities and relationship‑building, including recruitment, developing linkage agreements, and attending agency/network meetings and community events; maintain a complete and updated Community Resource Board at sites.
Submit all required paperwork accurately and in a timely manner; attend all required meetings; complete and submit site verification forms and maintain Outlook calendar.
Participate in Enrollment/Recruitment Campaign, annual self‑assessment, community assessment, and PIR; contribute to the achievement of Program Goals and School Readiness goals and promote a culture of safety.
Based on caseload sizes, FHAs may provide regional support with family engagement and recruitment.
All other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree or higher in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field.
Associate’s degree in the above fields plus a minimum of 1 year of experience in social services or early childhood education.
Degree in another field plus a minimum of 1‑3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education.
No degree plus a minimum of 1‑3 years of experience in social services or early childhood education; if no degree, or if degree is in another field, a family specialist credential must be earned within 18 months of hire.
Experience
Bilingual ability (English/Spanish) may be preferred or required for some positions.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or related software, including Microsoft Teams.
Vehicle/Transportation Requirements
Valid driver’s license.
Auto insurance.
Reliable vehicle.
Travel to Easterseals and partner sites regularly.
Skills & Abilities
Able to establish rapport and build trusting relationships with families.
Demonstrates a non‑judgmental, compassionate, and culturally sensitive approach to working with families.
Demonstrates a communication style that is open, adaptable, reflective, engaging, honest, and culturally sensitive.
Ability to visit families in home and community settings, and to work flexible hours, including evenings, to meet family needs.
Ability to engage in reflective learning practices and to utilize constructive feedback to inform work with families.
Ability to work well with all levels of the organization, partner sites, other agencies, and funding source personnel.
Demonstrates the ability to conceptualize and articulate program outcomes.
Ability to manage multiple projects.
Well organized, highly detail‑oriented, and accuracy‑driven.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor‑sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.
Salary: $44,098 - $55,123 annually.
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